I've downloaded the Az Assoc 7 stages. I've always felt that the number doesn't matter-it's what the person is doing. My husband has FTD. He hasn't known me, our kids or cat for over a year. Doesn't even realize that we are people that he knows. He babbles-few words once in a while. Incontinent except when frequently reminded to use br. He can walk when stood up and can feed himself. He isn't losing weight and looks frail but healthy. I'd rate him @ 6.5 What do you think. Am I avoiding saying he is stage 7 which I suppose is end stage.
bluedaze,I would suggest from your comments hes in EARLY stage 7ish. my DH is able to get up and walk by himself, eat food by himself- toilets if reminded but mostly doesnt make it in time lately, can talk some sense but mostly nothing that really makes sense.laughs when something strikes him funny- knows his name and knows i am his wife but sometimes forgets my name then knows me by name the next day-. calls his dog by name,bennie. so i think my DH is late stage 6. it also can change from one day to the next so I dont know if we can really say with certainty exactly where they are unless we do it on a daily basis sometimes-but staying within these guidelines i say we are a solid late 6. that move into 7 is scary i will hate to admit that one as well, divvi
Sounds like late 6 or early 7. Bob's in early 7, knows me & daughter & dog. Babbles a few words now & then. sometimes incontent, Neurologist said "severe dementia". When I asked stage, he wouldn't commit (last trip to him). Same month his Reg Dr., when I told him that, shook his head and said entering 7. Be nice if states were better defined, but I think we all progress at different rates. Some babies walk at 9 months, others at 12-13 months or later. Bob has, in the past 2-3 weeks been "sundowning". At about 7-8 PM he starts going from living room to bedroom, lays down awhile, then back to LR and repeats. He use to go to bed and to sleep about 11, now the up and down goes on into the early hours and I have lost lots of sleep. When I think things won't get any worse, something else rears its ugly head.
I felt my husband's stage 7 began when he started not being able to walk unaided, could no longer talk, and had to be fed. The next symptom was loosing weight even though he ate.
My husband in the past year has begun to have difffculty walking without aid; however he has had to be fed for two years, has not been able to talk for three to four years. His weight remains fairly stable even though he now weighs about 20 pds. less than he did in health. He appeears to understand more than he can indicatte that he knows. His periiodic medical tests indicate good health except for the ravages of the Alzheimers. I don't try to put a sttage on him or a time limit of life. I think the sufferers are all unique somewhat as to being able to determine possible life expectancy according to level of functioning as my husband could very well live quite awhile with the health he exhibits. A lot of factors are involved in a prognosis of life expectancy.
This makes me so sad to read...when I think things might be getting into end stages (see "Restlessness is going to drive me to the brink), then I read ya'll's comments and omgoodness...i guess i can handle whatever the good Lord gives me, but honestly, hours & hours of issues in a row...losing sleep...omgoodness...how much can one human (or caregiver) ENDURE...Sandi, you are my hero!! I am sad to know that you dealt with that late stage for so so long...i am ready (I guess), but praying that God will be merciful!!! I am already tired after just stage 6...
We're just in stage 4/5 but I already feel like natsmom... thinking about what we're going to have to endure. I guess I still hold out hope that they will find something to help before he gets that bad but in my heart I know that's a false hope.